Multi-controlled security lock

ABSTRACT

A multi-controlled security lock includes a slide which can be moved back and forth with respect to frame by at least one of two control devices, such as, a key control device or a remote electric control device. A carriage mounted on lock bolts is movable back and forth with respect to the frame. An irreversible actuating device is located between the carriage and the slide for permitting a movement of the carriage between an open position and a locked position in response to a movement of the slide and for preventing a movement of the carriage between the locked position and the open position in response to a force exerted on the carriage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, relates to a multi-controlled security lockdesigned in particular for use as a part of a security system installedfor the protection of enclosed areas and capable of being operatedlocally by a key and remotely by electrical control.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Prior art multi-controlled locks of this type are generally providedwith a latch element that can be moved back and forth by use of either akey or an electric control device typically a power solenoid.

Prior art security locks, however, have several disadvantages, the maindisadvantage being the large number of component parts resulting incostly manufacture and poor reliability.

A further disadvantage of prior art security locks is that they aremanufactured in different versions each meeting specific applicationrequirements such as, for instance a right-hand version or a lefthandversion for installation on right hinged or left hinged doors,respectively, and outside and inside according to whether the securitylock is to be installed on the outer or inner face of the door to beprotected, and the like.

A still further disadvantage of prior art security locks is that theycannot generally be operated by means of a panic handle from inside thearea to be protected in order to permit a fast emergency exit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved morereliable security lock of low cost design having a lower number ofcomponent parts used in the constructions and being easilymanufacturable.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a perfectlysymmetrical or universal security lock such that one model thereof canbe used in every kind of application as both a left-hand and right-handlock, mounted on either the door wing or the door frame.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a securitylock which can be easily fitted with a panic handle to facilitate exitfrom the protected area under emergency conditions.

According to the present invention there is provided a multi-controlledsecurity lock including a slide which can be moved back and forth withrespect to the frame by at least one of two control devices, such as akey control device or a remote electric control device; a carriage,constrained by lock bolts, being movable back and forth with respect tothe frame; and a non-reversible actuating device located between theslide and the carriage, the arrangement being such that the back andforth movement of the slide causes, through the non-reversible device,the back and forth movement of the carriage, however, a force exerted onthe carriage, at least in the lock opening direction, causes thecarriage to be locked in position.

A panic device driving the slide is also provided.

A security lock constructed according to the present invention will,therefore, feature high security, both active and passive, as well assimplicity and low cost due to the lower number of component parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of a multi-controlled security lock constructedaccording to the present invention will now be described in more detailby way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a side view, partially in section, of a preferred embodimentof the lock when the lock bolt is in a retracted or inoperativeposition;

FIG. 2 is a side view, partially in section, of the lock of FIG. 1 whenthe lock bolt is in an extended or operative position;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the lock of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a top view of the lock of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the accompanying drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, thesecurity lock comprises a box frame 10 to which two guides 12, 12' aresecured. Sliding along the guides 12, 12' are two lock bolts 16, 16'which engage the door frame, in known manner.

Lock bolts 16, 16' constrain a carriage 14 which can move back and forthfrom a retracted or inoperative position inside the security lock boxframe 10, as shown in FIG. 1, to an extended or operative lockingposition, as shown in FIG. 2, wherein lock bolts 16, 16' extend from thebox frame 10.

The back and forth movement of a carriage 14 is actuated by a slide 18consisting of a plate provided with two slots 20, 20', which is guidedby two pins 22, 22' fixed to frame 10. The movement of slide 18 on frame10 is thus guided by the two slots 20, 20' located on slide 18 alongwhich the two pins 22, 22' fixed to frame 10 slide.

Three slots 24, 24' 24" along which pins 26, 26', 26" slide,respectively, are provided on the carriage 14 to permit an axial backand forth movement of the carriage 14 relative to the frame 10. A sidebar 28 is pivoted at one end on the pin 30 which is fixed to the slide18, and at the other end on a pin 32 sliding along two superposed slots,one slot 34 being machined in the carriage 14 and the other slot 36being machined in the frame 10.

Since the end portion of the slot 36 located on frame 10, and that ofthe slot 34 located on the carriage 14 are both included atapproximately 45-degree with respect to the carriage 14 in the directionof movement, when the pin 32 reaches the inclined end portion of theslot 36 located on the frame 10, the carriage 14 will advance by ashorter distance than slide 18 does because of the slanted path throughwhich it travels and the side bar 28 will then be driven into an obliqueposition and will eventually be set to the maximum slant angle when thecarriage 14 reaches the operative position, as better shown in FIG. 2.

The side bar 28 at the maximum short angle ensues that the carriage 14cannot be moved away from the operative or locked position since anyforce exerted upon it with the purpose of unlocking it, would also actupon the slide 18 through the side bar 28. Since, however, the side bar28 is substantially included, such a force applied to the carriage 14will tend to cause the side bar 28 to rotate further, whereas theconstraint formed by the slot 36 located on the frame 10 will tend tomake it rotate in the reverse direction.

Thus, the pin 32 will be clutched between the slot 36 located on theframe 10 and the slot 34 located on the carriage 14, and thus thecarriage 14 can no longer be moved unless by direct action from theslide 18 through the side bar 28.

To move the carriage 14 back to the inoperative or unlocked position,the slide 18 must be moved to a leftward position, as viewed in FIG. 2,drawing along the side bar 28 through the pin 30 thereof, thus forcingthe pin 32 to travel through the oblique portion of the slot 36 locatedon the frame 10 and of the slot 34 located on the carriage 14,eventually moving the carriage 14 backwards into the security lock body.

Slide 18 is actuated by three control devices, namely a manual controldevice 38, a remote control device 40, and a panic control device 42.

The manual control device 38 consists of a conventional key-operatedcylinder whose rotary motion is transmitted to the slide 18 through agear train whose final gear 44 has one tooth less. Gear 44 co-operateswith a rack 46 which is constructed so that when the key control device38 is at either end position thereof, the slide 18 and the the cylinderwill disengage from each other thus allowing the other control devicesto be used.

The remote control device 40 includes an electric motor 48 which drivesa rack 50 through a reversible reduction gear train.

The panic control device 42 includes a shaft 52 which is rotated by apanic handle attached thereto in any desired manner. The shaft 52 pushesa double circular cam 54 located on the shaft 52 into bidirectionalrotary motion. The double circular cam 54 has a cam surface which forcesthe slide 18 towards the retracted position when shaft 52 is rotated ineither direction.

It is obvious that other numerous and different alterations andmodifications can be adopted by those skilled in the art, of theembodiments of the present invention hereinbefore described, withoutdeparting from its scope. It is, therefore, intended that all thesechanges and modifications are encompassed in the field of thisinvention. The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments isthus by way of example and not limitation of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A multi-controlled security lock comprising:aframe; at least two actuating devices; a movable slide having a firstposition and a second position, different from said first position withrespect to said frame, being movable from said first position to saidsecond position by each of said two actuating devices and being movablebetween said first position and said second position by at least one ofsaid actuating devices; a carriage having an axis of movement, an openposition and a locked position with respect to said frame; a lock bolton said carriage and having a predetermined relation thereto; and anirreversible actuating device located between said carriage and saidslide, for permitting a movement of said carriage between said openposition and said locked position in response to a movement of saidslide and for preventing a movement of said carriage between said lockedposition and said open position in response to a force exerted on saidcarriage, comprising a pin fixably mounted to said slide, and a side barhaving a first end and a second end, said first end being pivotablymounted on said pin, a first slot formed obliquely to said axis ofmovement on said carriage and a second slot being formed on said framehaving an initial horizontal portion and a final portion which isinclined with respect to said axis of movement, said first and secondslots being superimposed.
 2. The security lock according to claim 1,wherein said lock bolt has an axis of movement and a channel penetratingsaid bolt, said security lock further comprising the guide beingdisposed in said channel and guiding said bolt along said axis ofmovement.
 3. The security lock according to claim 1, for use on a sidehinged door having a right side and a left side and a wing and a doorframe, wherein said lock is operable if mounted on any of the right orthe left side or on the wing or the door frame.
 4. The security lockaccording to claim 1, further comprising a panic device transmitting adriving force to said movable slide for movement from said secondposition to said first position.
 5. The security lock according to claim4, wherein said panic device comprises a shaft and a bidirectionallyrotatable cam having a cam surface, on said shaft, said slide furthercomprising a cam follower contacting said cam surface, such that arotation of said cam in either direction applies a force to said slidecausing movement of said slide towards a predetermined one of said firstposition and said second position.